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WORKSHOPTIPS O scale 10 tips to help beginners hit the rails running The Christmas holiday season marks the time of year when more newcomers enter the model railroad hobby and begin reading Model Railroader magazine than any other time. After all, a new train set running around the Christmas tree is about as traditional as Mom’s apple pie this time of year. Newcomers naturally have many questions, so I’ve gathered some tips to answer the most common questions I receive every year. 1. Before you jump right in, you’ll need to think about the physical size, or scale, of the trains that interest you. The most popular sizes are: HO (1:87.1), N scale (1:160), and O (1:48 scale), which is equivalent to the Lionel toy trains. Large scale trains are also popular. They come in a mixture of scales from 1:22.5 to 1:32 but share a common 45mm track gauge. The relationship between the major scales can be seen in the photo above. This choice determines the space that’s required to build a layout. 2. Quality is important when you shop for model trains. Look for good value and check out the entire range of products available. You get what you pay for, so be skeptical of a train set that sells for half the price of a good locomotive. The better quality trains are more expensive, but they deliver superior performance and will last for many years. 3. A little reading provides help from many experts in the hobby. Kalmbach Books publishes an entire library of howto titles that cover all aspects of model railroading, including track plans, benchwork construction, track laying, wiring, and scenery. One group of books is especially for beginners. Descriptions of all the books can be found on our website at kalmbachbooks.com. 4. Settle on a time and place early on, as it’ll help you choose the trains and related models you really want. Most modelers have a favorite railroad that they enjoy due to a family connection, or they simply like its paint scheme. HO scale N scale Jim Hediger Scale comparison. These actual size examples show that each common scale is about half the size of the next larger scale. The locomotives shown here are in N (1:160), HO (1:87.1), and O (1:48) scales. Jim Forbes photos 5. Follow NMRA standards for best results. The National Model Railroad Association was founded to establish engineering standards so trains from many manufacturers would be interchangeable. The most visible part of these standards is the sheet metal NMRA standards gauge, which is offered in many scales (see the website at www.nmra.org). This gauge is used to check and adjust the dimensions of track, turnouts, wheelsets, and couplers. While the hobby has never developed a truly standard coupler, the magnetic knuckle couplers made by Kadee (HO and larger scales) and Micro-Trains (N scale and smaller) have become the popular de facto standard couplers. In some cases these couplers must be purchased and added separately. Fortunately, both firms offer a wide range of special coupler sets for easy installation on almost any car or locomotive. As the Kadee patents recently ran out, many clones have become available that appear on ready-to-run models. 6. Digital Command Control (DCC) is an electronic system that allows simultaneous independent control of multiple trains on electrically continuous tracks. Each locomotive has a receiver called a decoder that responds only to operating 28 Model Railroader • www.ModelRailroader.com commands from a control “cab” that’s electronically linked to it. Thus, many locomotives can operate at once on a single stretch of track on a layout. Many manufacturers offer DCC systems that are far more flexible and expandable than direct current (DC) power packs and block systems. Many veteran modelers still use DC, but in the long run the cost of both systems is comparable: DCC uses fewer but more expensive components, while the DC system uses many low-cost components that are purchased piecemeal. 7. Starting a layout is when the fun really begins. Most modelers start with a 4 x 8-foot layout, as that’s the common sheet size for plywood. Model Railroader’s February 2011 issue was devoted to layouts of this size (back issues are available). Keep in mind that the ½" thick intermediate grades of plywood will work fine for a layout. Wood screws and glue are recommended as fasteners. Plywood in grades AC or BC are good choices for our purposes. One side of the sheet is smooth and the other has its surface defects filled with plugs. Both sides are sanded smooth and even. Use good quality dimensional lum- ber for the bracing and legs, as it’s less likely to warp and twist over time.